The TWU is on the attack with waste company Cleanaway for a late change in bargaining stance on the eve of Christmas
The Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) has slammed waste company Cleanaway for using a loophole to withdraw from all terms it agreed to in bargaining just before Christmas.
The TWU says Cleanaway reneged on bargaining commitments just days before Christmas, erasing 13 months of negotiating progress.
Earlier in 2023, the TWU says waste workers at Erskine Park and at other sites around NSW took industrial action following Cleanaway’s attempts to lower workers’ pay and conditions.
TWU NSW branch secretary Richard Olsen says Cleanaway’s change of stance just before Christmas “was appalling”.
“Cleanaway must immediately reverse its decision to blow up this agreement after 13 months of negotiations,” Olsen says.
“Cleanaway’s tactics during a cost of living crisis and just days before Christmas are an insight into just how low this company will go to bully waste workers who perform critical services for our communities into submission.
“We urgently need our laws to change so that employers acting in bad faith can’t bully workers into accepting sub-standard agreements by ripping away positions they’ve agreed to in bargaining.”
The TWU will return to the Fair Work Commission next year.